Lundqvist seals the deal

Goalie has 35 saves as Rangers eliminate Penguins, taking last three games of series

Associated Press

Associated Press

Published 11:07 pm, Tuesday, May 13, 2014

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 13: Dominic Moore #28 of the New York Rangers, left, and Brian Boyle #22 of the New York Rangers celebrate after Boyle scored a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 13, 2014 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 488087715

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 13: Dominic Moore #28 of the New York...

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) leaps as time runs out in Game 7 of a second-round NHL playoff hockey series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. The Rangers won 2-1. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: PAGP107

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) leaps as time runs...

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) leaps as time expires in Game 7 of a second-round NHL playoff hockey series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh Tuesday, May 13, 2014. The Rangers won 2-1, and advanced to the conference finals. (AP Photo) ORG XMIT: PAGP106

New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) leaps as time expires...

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 13: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers and Brad Richards #19 of the New York Rangers celebrate Richards' second period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 13, 2014 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. New York defeated Pittsburgh 2-1 to advance to the next round. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 488087715

Brian Boyle and Brad Richards scored for New York, which rallied from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in the franchise's 88-year history.

The Rangers did it behind Lundqvist, who stopped 102 of the final 105 shots he faced over the final three games as New York advanced to the conference finals for the second time in three years.

The Rangers will play the winner of the Bruins-Canadiens series in the conference finals. That series is tied 3-3 and Game 7 is Wednesday night in Boston.

Jussi Jokinen scored his team-high seventh goal of the postseason for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury made 18 saves for the Penguins, who were outscored 10-3 over the final three games.

The Penguins fell to 2-7 all time at home in Game 7s, including three such losses in the past four seasons.

This one might have been the most painful for the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and coach Dan Bylsma that seemed pointed toward a dynasty after winning the 2009 Stanley Cup.

Crosby, who led the league in scoring and is an MVP finalist, managed just one goal in 13 playoff games.

Just as importantly, five springs have now come and gone without Pittsburgh getting a Cup to bookend the one they hoisted in Detroit and changes could be on the way.

The Penguins are just 4-5 in playoff series over the past five seasons, with each loss coming to lower-seeded teams.

There are no such Game 7 issues for the Rangers. Not with Lundqvist in net.

He lost his first Game 7 appearance to Washington in 2009, but has been unbeatable ever since. His fifth straight triumph in a deciding game is a new league mark, breaking a tie he shared with Patrick Roy, Ed Belfour and Cam Ward.

New York — which was outshot 36-20 — didn't waste a pair of golden opportunities provided by Pittsburgh defensive breakdowns.

Boyle quieted a raucous crowd 5:25 into the game at the end of a pretty breakout.

Derek Dorsett hit Boyle streaking across the Pittsburgh blue line and Boyle tapped it between his legs to Dominic Moore, who waited a split second before sending it back to Boyle. The veteran forward's shot went between Fleury's legs.

The Penguins responded by briefly taking over the game, their momentum cresting 4:15 into the second period when Jokinen pounded home a rebound off an Olli Maatta shot to tie the game.

The goal seemed to get the Penguins almost too keyed up. Matt Niskanen went to the box for tripping and New York's power play provided the clincher.

Pittsburgh's Brian Gibbons failed to get his stick down on a crossing pass from Brandon Sutter, nullifying a short-handed chance.

The Rangers took off the other way, and with the Penguins still scrambling to get back into position, Richards took a pass from Martin St. Louis and flipped it into a wide-open net to make it 2-1 before the game's midway point.